Locking device for nuts



J. c. HUFFER. LOCKING DEVICE FOR NUTS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 7, 1921.

1,399,862. Patented Dec. 13, 1921.

.foH/Y a HV/fZR INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

unrrao sra'ras rag'a'r JOHN G. H'UFFEB, 0E STERLING, COLORADO.

LOCKING DEVICE ron'nurs.

Application filed March 7,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN C. Hurrnn, a citizenof the United States, residing at Sterling, in the county of Logan andState of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inLooking Devices for Nuts, of which the following is a specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in looking devices for nuts, andmore particularly to a device adapted to engage a bolt end against thehead of a nut to hold the nut in position upon the bolt or to preventrotation of a bolt with relation to the member with which it hasthreaded engagement.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter which may be formed from a single piece of steel spring wireand which may be very readily applied to the bolt.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lock washer comprisinga coil of wire adapted to lie within the threads of a bolt and toresiliently engage therewith, the ends of the coils being extendedoutwardly and affording a hand-grip whereby the coil may be expandedwhen applying the same to a bolt, the extremities of these ends beingreturned to engage the bolt within the threads thereof to further assistit in preventing movement of the washer.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentthroughout the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration areshown preferred embodiments of my invention and wherein like referencecharacters designate like parts throughout,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bolt showing a nut lock constructed inaccordance with my invention applied thereto,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a single coil lock, and

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a multiple coil lock.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10indicates a wire bent to form a coil or coils 10 adapted to engage inthe threads of a bolt 11, the coils Specification of Letters Patent.

racemes Dec. 13, 1921.

1921. Serial No. 450,202.

being made in either right hand or left mal or contracted position. Inpractice, the

points 1& are preferably sharpened, as indicated, in order that theirengagement with the threads may be positive, and the interior of thecoils will likewise be provided with rasp-like teeth 15 directedoppositely to the direction of rotation necessary in applying the coilto the bolt.

In the use of my device the portions 12 may be engaged by the thumb andforefinger or between the jaws of a pair of pliers and move toward oneanother with the result that the coils 10 are expanded, rendering theapplication of the washer to the bolt 11 very simple. The washer isrotated until it engages against the upper surface of the nut 16 oragainst the upper surface of a member through which the bolt may bethreaded and the members 12 released, permitting the coils to contractso that the teeth 15 thereof engage in. the,

metal of the bolt and the pointed extremities of the wire likewiseengage therein.-

From the foregoing it is believed to be obvious that a locking deviceconstructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adaptedfor the use for which it is intended by reason of the fact that theapplication thereof to a bolt may be accomplished with a minimumexpenditure'of labor and time and by reason of the fact that the device,after being applied, effectually locks the bolt and the member havingengagement therewith against relative rotation. It will furthermore beobvious that the construction as hereinabove set forth is capable ofsome change in modification without departing from the spirit of myinvention and I accordingly do not limit myself to such specificstructure except as hereinafter claimed.

What I claim is: I

A nut locking device comprising a single length of resilient materialbent to form a spring coil having the convolutions thereof Wound in thesame direction as the threads of the bolt with which the device isadapted to coact, the inner faces of the convolutions of the coil beingprovided With bolt engag ing teeth, said teeth being inclined oppositely to the direction of rotation necessary to apply the coil to thebolt, the end portions of the material being formed into loops, theextremities of such end portions 10 being sharpened and adapted toextend into the threads of the bolt.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature. 7

JOHN C. HUFFER.

